Best Project Energy/Industrial: Clover Creek Substation

Abstract

Generating 80 MW of energy, the facility replaces coal-fired power with low-cost solar power. The team says the design-build delivery method was crucial to the project's success. A critical component was the 100-MW transformer that converted the power to a higher voltage for efficient delivery to end users. Installation of the 260,000-lb transformer required careful planning and coordination to ensure the site was ready before the transformer's fixed delivery date. The substation's connection to the national power grid was another critical milestone that had to be completed within a narrow outage window. Safety standard policies were individually signed by craft personnel, trade partners, delivery drivers, owners and representatives of any companies that visited the site. The fabrication team was located on site to ensure that parts were available to keep the project running on schedule.